Spokane County, WA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 14.826.100 (Illumination)
- Formal dark-sky ordinance
- None; shielding standard applies
- Direction of light
- Downward / shielded
- Neighbor protection
- No direct light on adjacent homes
- Parking lots
- Down-shielded, no off-site glare
Summary
Spokane County Zoning Code Chapter 14.826 requires that any outdoor lighting be positioned and shielded so it does not shine directly onto a neighboring residence. Parking-lot lighting must be down-shielded to avoid glare onto adjacent properties and rights-of-way.
Any lights, whether freestanding or attached to a building or structure, which illuminate any outdoor area of a lot, shall be positioned, placed, constructed, shielded or used so as not to illuminate directly any building or structure or portion thereof on an adjacent lot containing a building or structure used as a residence.
Full Breakdown
Spokane County has no formal International Dark-Sky ordinance, but SCC 14.826.100 functions as its outdoor-lighting standard: lights that illuminate any outdoor area of a lot must be positioned, placed, constructed, shielded, or used so as not to illuminate directly any building or structure on an adjacent lot used as a residence. Chapter 14.802.100 adds that parking-lot light sources must be constructed and down-shielded so they do not illuminate directly or create glare visible from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way, and lighting resembling or conflicting with traffic signals or emergency vehicles is prohibited. Many use-specific standards throughout Title 14 repeat the rule that lighting be directed downward and shielded.
Violations & Fines
Unshielded fixtures that spill light onto neighboring homes or create glare are zoning violations subject to correction orders from Spokane County Building and Planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Spokane County have dark-sky lighting rules?
How must parking-lot lighting be aimed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington outdoor lighting overview
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